Veteran Banker Appointed President of Legend Merchant Group
Firm Also Announces New Initiatives in Leading SPAC Practice
New York, November 29, 2007
Tom Gallagher, a senior investment banker at institutions such as Wachovia, Oppenheimer & Co. and J.P. Morgan Chase, has been named President and COO of Legend Merchant Group. Also joining the investment bank’s board of directors, Mr. Gallagher reports to Chip Unsworth, Legend’s Chairman and CEO.
“Tom’s deep transactional expertise and industry connections will accelerate our M&A and vertical banking services, especially in the Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) sector. The dramatic growth of this asset class and Legend’s leadership in SPAC distribution have increased demand for our services in origination, syndication, and post-IPO transactional support. Tom and his team will meet this need for sophisticated banking services,” said Mr. Unsworth.
In a related move, Legend has created new positions to serve the SPAC market, promoting Tom Masterson and James Palmer to Co-Heads of Syndicate. The firm is also increasing its presence in the trading of SPAC securities. Legend’s John Costanza has already helped make the firm’s SPAC trading desk one of the most active in the industry.
Mr. Gallagher joined Legend last year and has been serving as head of M&A. He previously led aerospace and defense investment banking at Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC. Mr. Gallagher earned his BA (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Pennsylvania and his MBA from the Wharton School.
“SPACs are now a multi-billion dollar market that Legend has served from its infancy. We are poised for even greater growth in this sector, along with our other vertical banking, brokerage and investment advisory practices,” said Mr. Unsworth.
Mr. Gallagher assumes the duties of John Shaw, a founder of Legend, who is leaving to assume a post at a major financial institution. “We thank John for helping make Legend what it is today and wish him all the best in his new position,” said Mr. Unsworth.
About Legend Merchant Group (“LMG”)
Legend Merchant Group, Inc. is a diversified investment bank based in New York with offices in San Francisco and Ft. Lauderdale. It is an NASD/FINRA broker-dealer; SEC-Registered Investment Adviser; and member of the National Futures Association, NYSE Arca, NQX and SIPC.
For more information, please contact:
Mark Sauter
Managing Director
(202) 558-6092
msauter@legendmerchant.com
